British Airways said today it would make an annual operating loss of around £150 million after costs rose by more than expected.

The airline blamed the impact of currency movements for an 8% year-on-year rise in non-fuel costs, compared to previous guidance of 5%.

It now expects results for the third quarter to December 31 to show an operating loss of £50 million, leading to a possible deficit of £150 million for the year to March 31.

BA shares were 5% lower following the update.

The slump in the value of the pound has hit the company in areas such as aircraft leasing, which is paid in dollars.

BA added: “Further economic weakness in January and the outlook for February and March combined with the fall in sterling, are impacting our outlook for the year ended March 31 2009.”

BA said revenues guidance for the period remained unchanged, with an increase of at least 4% year on year. Fuel cost estimates are also likely to be unchanged at around £3 billion as the lower price of fuel is offset by a reduced fuel hedging benefit for the year and currency impacts.

BA said in November it hoped to make a small profit for the 2008/09 financial year.

Costs have also been impacted by overseas air traffic control charges, which are paid in euros, while airport charges are paid in euros and dollars.

Pre-tax profits for the period April to September 2008 crashed more than 90% to £52 million after a trading period described by BA chief executive Willie Walsh as “one of the bleakest on record”.

The airline responded to the conditions by reducing capacity by 1% for summer 2009 and suspending its Heathrow services to Calcutta and to Dhaka in Bangladesh and also axing Gatwick flights to Dublin and Zurich.

British Airways remains in talks with Iberia over a potential tie-up, but said last month that merger plans with Australia’s Qantas had come to nothing.